Activists present 'letters of support' to New Mexico mosque amid backlash against Muslims

Imam Shafi Abdul Aziz, left, of the the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque, speaks on the importance of tolerance during afternoon prayer Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. A coalition of Christian and Jewish leaders presented the Albuquerque mosque dozens of "letters of support" after GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump suggested the U.S. place a moratorium on Muslim immigration. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
(The Associated Press)

Imam Shafi Abdul Aziz, of the the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque, speaks to a group of advocates on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. A coalition of Christian and Jewish leaders presented the Albuquerque mosque dozens of "letters of support" after GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump suggested the U.S. place a moratorium on Muslim immigration. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
(The Associated Press)

Imam Shafi Abdul Aziz, of the the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque, speaks to a group of advocates on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. A coalition of Christian and Jewish leaders presented the Albuquerque mosque dozens of "letters of support" after GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump suggested the U.S. place a moratorium on Muslim immigration. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)
(The Associated Press)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A coalition of Christian and Jewish leaders has presented an Albuquerque mosque dozens of "letters of support" after remarks by GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

Activists from the Blessed Oscar Romero Catholic Community and the Albuquerque Center for Peace & Justice gave the letters Friday to the Islamic Center of New Mexico and said they were a gesture of "solidarity" with New Mexico Muslims.

Advocates wrote the letters after Trump called for a moratorium on Muslim immigrants coming into the U.S. and suggested that the federal government put mosque under surveillance.

Imam Shafi Abdul Aziz says the letters were "heartfelt" and thanked advocates for thinking of New Mexico Muslims.

Rev. Francis Quintana of the Catholic group says activists had no choice but to to speak out after Trump's comments.